Authorities in Colombia have killed two soldiers and wounded six others after they mistook them for leftist rebels.

Police say the incident occurred Thursday in the village of Chipaque south of the capital, Bogota.

They say military police rushed to the town after receiving information that rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, were planning to blow up electricity towers in the area. A firefight broke out when an army patrol arrived at the scene at the same time to investigate a separate report about the FARC.

Authorities say the incident is under investigation.

The FARC, along with a smaller leftist rebel group and rightist paramilitaries, is involved in a long-running war with the government in Colombia. The conflict leaves thousands of people dead each year.